Product Backlog
The ordered, continually evolving collection of improvements needed for a product.
What is a Product Backlog?
In Scrum, the Product Backlog is the ordered, evolving collection of what should improve the product. It is the Scrum Team’s single source of product work and is guided by the Product Goal. The Product Owner is accountable for clarity and ordering. Items may cover new features, fixes or technical improvements; not all need to use the User Story format.
In a fictional portal project, reliable request storage, error feedback and an extra animation are in the backlog. New findings may change their order. Before implementation, items are clarified and split if needed; dependencies and risks are considered. Developers size the work. A backlog is therefore neither an unchangeable complete specification nor a promise to deliver every wish by a fixed date.
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Related terms
- ScrumA framework for working together incrementally on complex product challenges.
- User storyA short description of a user role, a need and the goal behind it.
- Product OwnerThe person accountable in Scrum for product value, the Product Goal and effective backlog management.
- Product discoveryInvestigating needs, constraints and risky assumptions before settling on a product solution.
- Definition of DoneThe shared description of the quality conditions a completed product Increment must meet.
- Agile software developmentDeveloping software in verifiable increments and adapting the plan based on feedback.
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